Dear Editor,
Let us use the opportunity of our own Jubilee year to erase the memory of those who were the brutal oppressors of our forefathers. Let us rename streets throughout Guyana and especially rename our capital. We have ancestors of distinction who bought villages, pork-knocked the hinterland for gold and diamonds, created journals to preach liberty, were innovative and inquisitive in the march against bondage by European colonials in Guyana. Here are thirty names to erase the names of thirty oppressors.
- Gersholm Browne: Corporal of the West India Regiment in Palestine
- Rev Theophilus Peters: lawyer and preacher at Ketley Church
- Dr Claude Denbow: dentist and leader of the international League of Coloured Peoples
- H H Nicholson: scientist at the National Museum and Marxist philosopher ‒ ‘Vigilance’
- Jane Phillips-Gay: feminist and outstanding trade union leader
- Iris Leach: mentor of steel-band rise to social acceptance
- Winifred Gaskin: feminist and agitator for women working in the Guyana Civil Service
- Lynette Dolphin: feminist and music teacher at Queen’s College
- E R Burrowes: revolutionary artist and innovative creator of the Working Peoples Art Class
- Frederick Mahaica: inquisitive diamond seeker and pork-knocker on the Mazaruni River
- A J Seymour: poet and publisher of Kyk-Over-Al journal
- R C G Potter: educationist
- Edgar Mittelholzer: anti-colonial novelist from the provincial town of New Amsterdam
- Claude Geddes: pioneer of foundry works in Guyana
- Cleveland Hamilton: poet and defender of the poor
- Norman Cameron: mathematician and author of Evolution of the Negro Vol 1 & 2
- Basil Hinds: art teacher and pioneering jazz critic
- Auntie Gertrude: leader of market women in the anti-colonial struggle
- R B O Hart: headmaster of Progressive High School and master journalist
- Dr Carlyle Miller: brave host of Marcus Garvey when he came to British Guiana
- J O F Haynes: legendary lawyer
- Martin Carter: legendary poet
- John Carter: legendary diplomat
- Herbert Critchlow: legendary trade unionist and supporter of the revolution in Russia
- Henry Cameron: hinterland administrator
- ‘Ginip Seed’: footballer
- ‘Waterboat’: footballer
- Robert Christiani; legendary cricketer and legendary 1950 West Indies cricket team to England
- Tom Charles: leader of popular music band throughout the West Indies
- ‘Slack-foot Johnny’: fearless fetcher of sugar, rice and flour bags and Robin Hood of the poor
Historians of Guyana write and be rich! City councillors of Guyana be daring and proclaim liberty! To the thirty names above add Kwame Nkrumah who inspired Ghana Day before Independence and Eze Ogueri whose visit to British Guiana inspired decolonization.
Hallow the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty.
Yours faithfully,
Ras Dalgettie I
Ras Addis Asher
Ras Fire Lion
Sister Audrey Langevine
Sister Gold
Ras Neil Alleyne
Ras Punck Rankings
Ras Overseas
Ras Kevin Oudkerk
Prince Hope
